Cricket season

Reluctantly I think we have our work cut out to get a result in this Test.Draw would be very acceptable.
Domingo I see has at the last minute put in an application as future manager,which indicates that he didn't get some possible position that has now disappeared into the sunset or our selectors have given him a nod or a wink.
On Faf there is nothing to discuss.Family comes first and he will be in the 2nd Test.
Elgar is a good temp.appointment and Khun is as good as anybody else around to partner him.
Amla best left to himself to go and get triple Century.
Duminy should not be in Test Squad at all.Over the last 2-3 years his performances don't stand up and he has technical flaws that all opposing sides are aware of.
Am worried that Vilander won't stay the course or be able to bowl to maximum.
The De Villiers story takes some swallowing.Whilst appreciative of what he has achieved ,the jumping in and out particularly as ODI captain to me is unsettling.
He say that he is going to cut back for personal reasons?
One thing for sure he won't cut back on IPL!!
Knowing that Faf would not be available for this First Test could he not have offered services to stand in one time?

Have lost all respect for de villiers as growing up in a time where test cricket was a lost cause due to apartheid any cricketer would have sacrificed everything and anything to play one test match least of all a marquee test series against england especially at lords..the world cup is 2 years away not 2 months away so his feeble excuse about looking after his body is a joke..

pirates wrote: Have lost all respect for de villiers as growing up in a time where test cricket was a lost cause due to apartheid any cricketer would have sacrificed everything and anything to play one test match least of all a marquee test series against england especially at lords..the world cup is 2 years away not 2 months away so his feeble excuse about looking after his body is a joke..

my sentiments exactly, SA Cricket should just tear up his contract. Its not as if he is winning matches for the Proteas. His performances at the Champions Trophy were woeful. A few of my friends played for WP and they would have given anything to,as you say, played just one test. They did play against the so called rebel tours, but it was not the same.

In years to come he will regret not playing. Alexis the Arsenal player has the right attitude. He said that while your body allows you to play then why rest. Just play play play as when the day comes that you have to pack it up you will have more years sitting on the sofa and watching than you had playing.

i understand about the de villiers issue,but it is what it is and we must move on.i hate losing to the poms at all sports,but especially at cricket,so i just hope this group of players can stand up and really put up a fight and play to the best of there ability,win or lose that is all we can ask for.i believe in our test team and i think we can win this series because the english team is a bit full of themselves and need to come down to earth, like the last time we toured england and put them firmly in there place!

Watched Markram a few times and he is someone that could be around for many year. He is a classy batsmen but might need a but of time to find his feet. I am looking forward to see him playing.

I fear the English will have to much fire power for us and at just over 1/1 looks a decent price. Our batting line up unfortunately looks a bit thin.

If the Proteas bowl short England batsman will just pick them off. Full and straight.

Problem could be the reviews. Every bowler in the world believes that every LBW shout is out. Elgar has to be on his game and don't let the bowlers talk him into any stupid review

I also believe our batting line up is very thin. One debutante and de Bruyn playing only his second test(and a duck in the warm up game),JP anything that deviates a mm outside off stump and he is gone.I hope they prove us wrong, but I think this batting line up lacks confidence and the ability to take the game away from the bowlers. I believe they'll bat to survive rather than try and be attacking.

Philander showing what the Proteas missed when England beat then in SA in the test series

If they can get Root out before he gets to 70 then its game on. Stokes can turn a match in one session so they need to get him quickly after lunch as Protea batsman wont score more that 280.

Yep, great first session for the Proteas but now we need to see them finish off England. They have battled to finish off teams in the past after having them on the ropes.

that was a good 1st session.now we must go for the kill after lunch.take our catches and don't give free runs away.we need rabada to come to the party and chip in with a wicket or two and then it's game on.

Duminy drops Root on 16. Now Root has over 120. I thought that the captaincy would affect his batting, not so.